Safety retaining device for pivotal joints



'Dec. 21, 1948. G. F. REED ETAL. 2,456,793

SAFETY RETAIZNING DEVICE FOR PIVOTAL JOINTS Filed Oct. 20, 1944 INJ/ENTDR. Mona; FREDERICK mew, wwm-AM 1:15am.

ATTORN v.

Patented Dec. 21; 1948 l SAFETY, RETAINING DEVICE FFDRJBWOTAL JOINTS George Frederick Re'ed and William'Henry Gould,

Johannesburg, Africa Transvaal, "Union ,"zof 'rSmith Amilication October 20, 1944;"Seri'al No. 559:632 In the'Union of South Africa De'cember- 8, 1-943 9*Glaims. 5:1

l his invention relates toflpivotal joints. "Direct the obje'cts ofrthe invention 'is Zto "ensure that 'the pivoted:members do not *part, while avoiding interference with ".the :normal "operation of the joint. ifurther robjec't of t the invention :is "to give a clear warningzwhen danger'rof the joint members parting iiiisslmminent. .rtc'oordingly "the utility-:01 the invention ZiS libest "developed vin the case of pivotal joints :in'cludedrin ta zchain of elements whose L failure 21's :ilikely to *produce serious consequences. mhe pivotal :jointszof carflsteering apparatus fall: in tthis wategory.

Safd :pivotal joints r o'f car steering gears are commonly'rcons'tructed'withzcmoperatingwearing surfaces :of :general 'conoi'dal iiorm providing an axis *ab'out wlnch the :principal oscillating :movement of the joint members occurs in a plane perpendicular ito asaid the Joint being also adapted ito vallnwfion'secondary oscillating movemerit of 'iless frmagnitnde :in directions "other than in that ".plane. mherconstruetion provided'to "per-- mltt'thisrsecondaryimovement torsonrefiextentim- DEHSZthEZSEClIlltYCOf-thfi :jointyzand in particular makes :it easier than r n'ee'd otherwise be the "case for the uptvcted members :to separate :by relative displacement I inithe'zdirect-ion iOf JSZidQlXiS.

iForFexample in the case of the-ball and socket joint which is the kind of joint often fitted to allow nor the secondary movementywear between theroall rand fthez'socket is :apt itogpermit the hall surifacesF-havingaaspath -scf :relativemovement ldetermined "by ithfi specified arel-ative rmovement 01 displacement of .theiiointed members; said ipa'th ending ln c'ontact between said: stopsurfaces that limits ,such fspecifled movement or 1 displacement the ester: surfaces ;being 50 separate :and distinct from "the bearing asur'f aces "as :to the lsnbstantially unworn tby 'tth'e 'zpivctal action *twhentthey imake contact'with aon another.

.In the case z'o'f's-a mi-votal .joint in which :themivotally jointed members are oscillatable about an axis :and comprise contacting ':parts of 'conoidal form whichgupon wear occurring between said contacting "parts, 'permit the relative movement orzidisplacemerit or "the ipivotally "jointed members along:said :a-xis, such :conoiclal formation is nor.-

1 axialldirection.

..;Al's'o according ito the invention, when the two pivdtahmemhersnrein pivotflicontactat internal and external 'conoida1:=-:bearing surfaces :and :thus capable: ofpermittingamovenrent or displacement :m the direction of the axis of the ICOnOldfll formationfand towardsithe smaller end ithereof upon wear-of the sur faces, the additional means comprises "a part :rig'iil *with on'e-"of 'said members and a formati'on rigid with the other :member, said part being spaced behind and clear of said formation and so as to make stopping contact with said 'forma'tion -a's the consequence of the relative movement or :displacement of the members attaining a rnagn'itude determined by the spacing of said part fromsaidl'formation.

i ls suggested above, the kind of "joint "with which the invention is of particular utility comprises -a socket having an aperture, .a :ball wi thin the socket and *mounted on a stem extending through said aper ture, the ball tending to part from the "socket by movement or displacement towards "the aperture. A safety device suitable for such a ball and :socket joint comprises a rigid structure having means for cl'ampin-giit to one o'f the menihers of the joint and including a part adapted toloe sp'amad behind the other member of the joint in the iiirec tionof movement or displaoementof: the ball towards thesaperture of the socket, by a distance commensurate'with a safe degree "of *such movement or displacement, the device being otherwise shaped to-stand clear of the other 'mem'b er 'during'normal operation of "the joint.

The invention further comprises-specific forms o'f'suchasaftyretaining device, as described hereafter.

"Examples 'o'fthe invention are 's'hownin the accompanying "drawings which rEigureI is a perspective View showing'a ball joint .hetween .a tie, rod and a steering arm with oneiorm of retaining device.

lEi'gureTII is another view not -the"ilower part of FfiqureI.

LEignreiIIIlisa.perspectivevi'ew "showing the 3 same kind of joint with a different retaining device.

Figure IV is a sectioned perspective view of a ball joint between a steering arm and a drag link.

Figure V is an end view of Figure IV. Figure I shows a usual ball joint between the steering arm 2 .of a stub axle assembly and a tie.

rod 3. At the end of the steering arm 2 the functlonally effective portion 4 of a ball is mounted by means of the ball stem 5, secured in said arm 2 by the nut 6 and extending at right angles to .3

' of a spherical surface about the same centre as said arm. The ball 4 is enclosed in the socket 1 provided at the end of the. tie rod 3. The.

spherical surface 8 of the ball contacts with the zone 9 of the socket spherical surface surrounding the socket aperture through which the stem 5 extends; so that such spherical surface 9 constitutes the normal means of retaining the the spherical surfaces 8 and 9 being a gradual displacement of the ball and the socket from their relative .positions shown, which is that before Wear begins. This displacement is along the axis II and such that the ball 4 approaches the aperture in; and if allowed to continue it would result in the ball passing through the aperture. However the joint remains in good usable condition within a limited range of such displacement,

for example within the limit represented by the dotted line position of the socket in Figure II.

The arm 2 oscillates in a materially horizontal plane while force transmitted between the ball and the socket is exerted in another plane spaced from that first mentioned, tending additionally to drag the ball out of the socket.

The means provided by the invention has no effect on the normal pivotal movement of the joint members relatively to one another, but is concerned only with the aforesaid movement or displacement of the ball towards the aperture and has the effect of stopping said movement or displacement when it has grown to such an extentthat the possibility of the ball leaving the socket is imminent.

The means shown for this purpose in Figures I and II consists of the U-shaped member 15.

One arm l6 of the U is formed with a slot I! by means of which it is passed over the screwed end of stem 5 and seated on the surface I8 of the steering arm 2; where it is rigidly secured by tightening down the nut-B.

The other arm I9 of the unites the part l6- and is materially parallel therewith. The yoke 20 of the U stands well clear of the rod 3 and socket I, so that it neither impedes the move ments of said rod and socket relatively to the arm 2 and ball 4, nor does any wear occur between the U member l5 and said rod and socket while the joint remains in good condition.

Similarly the part 19 makes no contact with or otherwise has any effect on the socket 1 or rod 3; but it is spaced at a determined distance a below the socket. This distance is equal to the distance which the socket, and the ball can shift relatively to one another in the parting direction about a centre that is substantially the centre x of the ball. The circular lower edge 22 of the socket is itself at least approximately a portion part of the member l5 since the latter was in-.. The .member l5 now functions as a.

stalled. means of positively retaining the ball in the socket. Since the surface 2| and the rim 22 come to thisfunction without previous wear, they are.

in good condition to perform their function.

Figure III shows a stub axle- 23 rigid with a clevis 24 that is pivoted to the main axle 25 by the king pin 26, Rigid with the clevis are the brake backing plate 21 and the steering arm 28 which is essentially similar to the arm 2 of the Figure Iv example. The ball joint 29 betweensaid arm'28 and the tie rod 30 is essentially like that of Figure I. I

The safety device in this case consists'of the bracket 3| bolted to. the brake backing plate 21'v in such a position that its horizontal arm'32is under the socket 33 of the :ball'and socket joint.

29. As the joint wearsthe socket -33progres'sively drops; but its descent is stopped in time by its contact with the'upper surface 34 of the bracket.

. Said surface 34 is preferably made concave so that it is like the surface 2| of the? Figure I 'ex-' ample and produces the same advantageous effect. V

Figures IV and V show an example ofthe'invention'applied to the ball and socket joint atthe end of a drag link 35. The joint is 'of conven-,

tional construction comprising the .two hard metal pads 35 retained in'a-bore 31;lat theend of the drag link 35 and providingthe spherical socket surfaces 38, 38. Theyare enclosedin the bore 31 by the screw cap 39 and kept together by the stiff spring40. The bal1'4l at the end of the stem-42 is enclosed between said pads 36. In this aperture 43.

'To avoid this, a stirrup; 44 is'clamped rigidly to the stem 42-and arched over the drag link 35 at the side of the latter opposite the aperture 43; In order 'to enable the stirrup-44 to be thus'positioned and to'bsecured 't'o the stem 42, the stirrup is constructed'as a halved clamp,'the halves of which are forced together and into gripping engagement with the stem 42 by means of bolts 45. The upperends of the clamp ha1ves-arese-' cured to 'one another by another bolt 46. The

object of the stirrup would; be defeated if it' slipped alongthe stem 42and to avoi'd this,' in

the illustrated'example 5 two flats'one 'of'which is; showmand: marked 41, -are-fformedxat ;opposite sides of the stem 4-2::to;pr.ovideeach-azpairbf pposite :1 shoulders '4:8@,between' which the clamp formation'fits.

Play of the ball 4| in its socket, allowing the ball to approach-the aperture -43,correspondingly brings. the. stirrup surface .49 .towards the surface 50 of the drag link that is oppositev thesgap .43, until those surfaces touch; when the stirrup 44 positively retains theball against "further play or displacement towards the-aperture 43.

The stirrup 44 is without any contact'withzany part of thedrag link 35 so long'as thegjointgremainsringood condition. Since "the surface isarigid with the ball 4|, rotation "of the rlink35 relatively .around the ball 4l-does-not materially alter the distance between the surfaces-"49g'aan'd 5); ":and to compensate for any relative ups-and down swingof the link, the surface 49;is iconvexl curved in the ccrresponding direction.

;The ball and socket joints described'remain substantially noiseless ,even when considerably worn; although'when'the car'isrunning, there is constant play of theball in the socket especiallyin the case. .of the joint between thecs'teering arm and the tie rod (Figure I). This play is reproduced between the safety device and the socket, so that when said parts approach closely enough to one another there is set up between them a series of rapidly repeated impacts that make themselves manifest as noise, giving an insistent warning that the joint requires attention. The fact that the impacts are delivered on the members I5 and 44 at a distance from their points of support causes such members to be distinctly sonorous. Moreover the impacts are such as to be readily felt by the person holding the steering wheel.

Nevertheless the retaining devices, by positively retaining the ball in the socket, enable the car to be driven for some distance after the noise has begun, in order to reach a destination at which a proper repair may be effected.

The devices of the invention also enable a person in charge of a car to keep himself informed of the state of the ball joints, by inspection or measurement of the gap between the potential contact points such as the points 22 and 2|. The gap may for instance be measured from time to time by such means as a gauge, and while the car is stationary, thus revealing the gradual displacement of the ball towards the socket aperture.

We claim:

1. A pivotal joint comprising pivotally jointed members having pivotal bearing surfaces wear of which permits relative movement or displacement of the pivotally jointed members from an original relative position, otherwise than in the pivotal direction and tending to cause separation of said members, which surfaces are active to oppose such relative movement or displacement, and means potentially capable of setting a limit to such movement or displacement, said limit being positive and predetermined and less than that which would allow said members to part, said means comprising rigid stop surfaces rigidly as sociated respectively with the respective jointed members and so positioned relatively to one another as to be normally out of contact, the stop surfaces having a path of relative movement determined by the specified relative movement or displacement of the jointed members, said path ending in contact between said stop surfaces that *6 limitsrsuch-grspecifiedrmovementxordisplacement; thesstop surfacesabeing separatevanddi'stinct. from the :bearing;:surfaces and .out of :contact theretion and :towards the smaller tend thereofiupon.

wear rof said isurfaces,rand in' which'saidmeans comprisesca spartrigidzwith; one of said members and ca :formation .:rigid avithathe "other member, said part rbeing spaced behind :and clear s, of ;.said formation so asx'to :make :rigi'd stopping "contact with said formation as the consequence of said axialmovement or displacement: attaininglaanagnitude imaterially equal to the original spacing of said part from said formation.

4. A ball joint comprising a first member including a socket having an aperture and a second member including a ball within the socket and mounted on a stem extending through said aperture and connecting the ball to structure connected to the first member by the joint, the ball tending to part from the socket by movement or' displacement through the aperture consequent upon wear of the members, normal means around the aperture opposing such movement or displacement of the ball from the socket, and additional means potentially capable of setting a limit to such movement or displacement, said limit being positive and predetermined and less than that which would allow the members to part; the additional means comprising a rigid part rigidly secured to said second member having a portion thereof spaced from said first member so as to make rigid stopping contact with the socket as a consequence of relative axial movement or displacement of said ball and socket attaining a magnitude materially equal to the original spacing of said portion from said first member.

5. A safety retaining device suitable for a ball and socket joint of the kind comprising a socket having an aperture, a ball within the socket and mounted on a stem extending through said aperture, the ball tending to part from the socket by movement or displacement towards the aperture, and normal means around said aperture arranged to oppose such parting movement or displacement of said ball, said device comprising a rigid structure having means for clamping it to one of the members of the joint and including a part spaced behind the other member of the joint and adapted to move in the direction of movement or displacement of the ball towards the aperture of the socket, by a distance commensurate with a safe degree of such movement or displacement, said part contacting the socket thereafter to prevent further relative movement or displacement of said ball and socket, the part being otherwise shaped to stand clear of the other member during normal operation of the joint.

6. The safety retaining device claimed in claim 5 suitable for a ball and socket joint comprising a steering arm and a screw-threaded stem of the 7 ball passing through said steering arm, in which the device has a U form, one arm of the U being adapted to engage with the steering arm and being perforated to pass over a screwed end of the ball stem mounted on said arm, the secondarrn of the U being substantially parallel with the first mentioned arm of the U and adapted to stand a short distance behind the socket of the joint.

7. The safety device claimed in claim 5, in which the device is of stirrup form and constructed to clamp onto a ball stem and provides a part adapted to surround a drag link providing the socket, and standing clear of the drag link at the opposite side of said drag link from the aperture of the socket.

8. The combination of a brake backing plate and a steering arm rigid with said plate and fitted with a ball and socket joint, and a bracket on the backing plate positioned beneath the socket of the ball joint and spaced therefrom by a distance commensurate with preventing the members of the joint from parting.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the first member and the portion present cooperative convex and concave spherical sur- REFERENCES CITED 1 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 842,474 Lightbody Jan. 29, 1907 885,878 Skirrow Apr. 28, 1908 1,642,063 Dodge Sept.'13, 1927 1,776,410 Bendix Sept. 23, 1930 1,833,932 Cadnum Dec. 1, 1931 1,854,925 Crawford Apr. 19, 1932 1,866,512 Todd July 5, 1932 1,866,520 Todd July- 5, 1932 1,921,141 Thompson Aug. 8, 1933 2,208,325 Krutsch July 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS g Number Country I Date Great Britain May 9, 1939 

